Combined door-knob and alarm-bell.



Patented Dec. I7, |90l. P. C. PLASTER. (IOIIBINEDA D008 KNDB AND ALARM BELL.

(Applicamn :und me. 2o, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Shea! I.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES:

JN VEN T 0R.' J0@ BY A YTORNEY.

. D. a w; Numlls PETERS ou., moonrruo.. wAsHmu'rDN Patented Dec. I7, |90l.

P. c. PLAsTsn. GOIBINED D008 KNDB AND ALARM BELL.y

(Application mnd Dec. 30, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(In Modal.)

INVENTOR:

WITNESSES:

AHORA/'EK UNTTED STATES PATENT' OFFICE;

PURL C. PLASTER, OF *INDIANA-POLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN H. MILLER, OF INDIANAPOLlS, INDANA.

COMBI-NED DOOR-KNOB AND ALARM-BELL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 689,322, dated December 17, 1901. Application filed December 20, 1900. Serial No. 40,495. No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that LPURL O. PLAsTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new land useful Combined Door-Knob and Alarm-Bell; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to ro which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and `to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Myinvention relates to the class of devices that are commonly designated as doorknobs, including generally their operative connecting parts, and has reference more particularly to the type which embraces a pair zo of operatively-connected knobs, one at either side of a door, either of which may be rotated partially to withdraw the doorlatch with which they may be connected.

The main object of my invention is to provide an alarm-sounding or resonant knob for doors and the like capable of operation at the inner side of the door by a knob or the like device at the outer side thereof, so that an alarm may be made either to designedly attract attention or automatically as a warning against burglars or sneak thieves when manipulating the outer knob in the usual operation of unlatching the door.

Another object is to provide devices of this character which may be connected to doors andlocks that are commonly in use,and therefore cheaply adding to a doorA both a so-called door-bell and also a burgiar-alarm dovice combined.

4o A further object is to provide means whereby myalarm-sounding knob may be connected with an ordinary outer knob at a small expense.

My invention consists, broadly, of an alarmsoundingdoor-knob adapted to operateadoorlatch` and to be operated by means at the opposite sidev of the door with which it may be connected and', more specifically, itconsists in a new andnovel form of door-knob having a sounding bell or gong forming a part.

thereof, means within the knobA for directly operating the gong, a knob having a pushbutton forming a part thereof, a push-rod communicating between `the push-button and the means for directly operating the gong, and means which may be adjusted so as to form contact with the means for directly operatingthe gong independently of the pushbutton and rod, whereby the gong may be sounded either designedly by means of the 6o push-button operation or automatically when unlatching the door. The invention consists also in the novel parts and in the combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter particularly described, and pointed out in the claims forming part of this specification.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a fragment of a door and frame, showing my improved outer door-knob as applied to a door; Fig. 2, a front plan view of the 7o outer knob-body minus its facing-cap and showing the recesses for receiving a pushbutton and its spring; Fig. 3, a fragmentary view showing my alarm-sounding knob as applied to the inner side of 'the door; Fig. 4, a 75 view in elevation of a portion ot' a door, showing both of myimproved knobs applied thereto; Fig. a fragmentary rear view of the in ner knob, showing also the end plan of the knob-stem; Figs. and 7, end views of rocking 8o shafts whereby the knob may be operatively .connected and the door-latch operated and showing channels located at different parts thereof for receiving the push-rod extending from one to the other knob; Fig. S, a central sectional view taken through the pair of connected knobs longitudinally of their axes and showing their connecting parts and internal mechanism with respect to the portions of a door and lock with which they are designed 9o to operate;` Fig. 9, a transverse sectional view of the inner knob, taken on a vertical line Z Z in Fig. 8; Fig. 10, a front plan View of the base portion and parts thereof forming parts '"1' of the inner or sounding knob; Fig. l1, a fragmentary rear view of the inner knob, showing also the end plan of its stem in which the channel for the push-rod is illustrated in ay changed situation, but in accordance with my invention; Fig. 12,an internal View of roo the gong, showing the main or motive spring and the main gear-wheel as applied to the hub of the gong; Fig. 13, a front plan view ofthe inner guide-plate and collar, showing my devices applied thereto for automatically starting the alarm-bell mechanism; Fig. 14, a perspective View of the rocking shaft; Fig. 15, afragmentary View in elevation of the guide-plate and collar and inner knob in their relative operative, positions; and Fig. 16, a perspective view of the head-block, which is movably mounted in the guide-collar, to be employed when setting the mechanism for automatic action.

Similar reference characters in the severa figures indicate corresponding parts.`

In the drawings, A indicates a door portion, to which the lock and knobs are usually applied; B, the outer knob; C, the inner and alarm-sounding knob; D, the rocking shaft carrying the knobs in the usual manner and itself mounted in the door-lock casein the well-known manner. The door-frame is designated by a, near which the mechanism is situate when in operative positions.

In practically carrying out my invention I may construct and arrange the gong in any suitable manner and so connect its operating mechanism with devices extending through the door and connecting` with the outer knob in such manner that when partially rotating the knob an alarm may be given by the bell or gong, making provision for sounding the bell independently and designedly. I herein show and describe the means I at present employ as being the best practical embodiment of my invention in its more specific forms, subject to many minor variations in the details of construction.

The case b of the door lock and latch may be designed for any of the types of either rim or mortise locks in which the usual rotative barrel d is mounted in the usual manner. Also the outer guide-plate e and its collar e may be made in any of the usual styles, the stem B' of the outer knob B being adapted thereto. I also employ a rocking shaft D, having the general shape and character as such members now commonly employed, being square in cross-section; but in some cases I cut or press a channel D2 in one side thereof extending longitudinally from end to end thereof and of suitable depth to receive a suitable push-rod. Y In other cases instead of the channel D2, I may provide a hollow shaft D', having a central channel D3, or instead of forminga channel in such shaft I mayform a channel Z', Fig. 11, in the stems of the knobs, as at the side of the socket 7c that receives the shaft, and a corresponding channel in the cylinder d. The cylinder d may have the wellknown fingers or other means for engaging the latch-bolt of the lock.

The outer knob B comprises abody B2, having a facing-cap Il and a stem B', the latter Y,having the socket-opening 7c extending through the body portion and enlarged at'its outer end portion to provide a holder f, preferably circular, in which a suitable push-buteseaz ton or plunger F is slidingly fitted and having a suitable resistance-spring G seated in a recess, as h, adapted to receive it. After inserting the push-button and its spring the cap H is attached in a suitable manner to the body portion, the cap having a suitable aperture through which the outer end of the button extends,th e aperture being in a dished portionj of the cap, the body having a like dished portion 'L'.

The inner guide-plate E may be in the usual form for mortise-locks, but may be suitably modified to adapt it to be fitted to and secured to a rim-lock, if desired. Its collar E', formed or connected rigidly therewith, will be further described hereinafter.

The inner knob C comprises a shell, including a base C2 and a barrel C3, and a gong, comprising, as shown, a barrel-like part J, open at one end and closed at the other end by a cap-like web J', which serves also as the outer front face-plate for the knob; but obviously a separate facing-cap may cover the web without contact and be removably attached to the barrel C3, if desired, so that the gong may be entirely inclosed in the knob. The base has a suitable post O4, on which is rotatively tted the' hub .l2 of the gong, this hub having one end of a coiled motive spring K attached.

thereto, while the other end of the spring is connected to a post C5, supported by the base C2. A screw y retains the gong on its supporting-post, while the gong is free to rotate about the same. The gong-hub carries a gear-wheel L, which is secured thereto, prefnerably by means of screw-threads, so as to be removable for replacing broken mainsprings. The wheel L has peripheral gearteeth 3, and it also has ratchet-teeth 4 projecting from its side which is placed toward the base C2. A-rotative shaft Q is mounted in a bearing Q and a bracket-bearing Q2. A pinion M is secured to the shaftQ and meshes with the gear-wheel L. An arm N (or an equivalent disk) is secured to the shaft Q and carriesa pawl X, which engages a ratchetwheel O, which is loose on the shaft Q. A ratchet-wheel P is also mounted loosely on the shaft Q and is attached to the wheel O, or it may be formed integral therewith. On a pivotal post u, attached to the base C2, is a hammer-arm W, pivoted between its ends, one end of which engages the Wheel Pand the other end of which carries a hammer W', arranged to strike the gong-barrel J. A spring Y, attached to the base C2, presses the arm W against the wheel P, and a stop 'v causes a rebound of the hammer W'.

The Wheel L may be formed in two parts as two separate wheels and rigidly secured together. The posts C4and C5 may be formed separately from the base C2 and suitably secured thereto and are preferably connected by a base member C6, which has a central guideway 2 extending under the centers of the two posts. A pintle S extends across the guideway, on which a pawl Ris pivoted, so as IOO IIO

esaaa to automatically engage the teeth 4, being pressed by a spring T into engagement therewith. The pawl has a bent stem n, extending through an aperture min the base C2. A push-rod I extends slidingly and longitudinally with the shaft D through the lockcase, the barrel d, and the door and knobstems from the push-button F to the pawl R and'is so arranged in either of the kinds of channels designed therefor above described that when the push-button is pressed inwardly the pawl shall be disengaged from the ratchet-teeth with which the pawl operates. The collar E of the guide-plate E has a circular exterior generally, but at one side has a -suitable recess 7, in which the neck 9 of the head-block V and part of the head thereof may-Work slidingly toward and from the knob C. A sleeve U extends around the collar and over the neck 9 and has an oblique groove q, into which a studp on the neck 9 extends, so that by rotating the sleeve the head-block is caused to advance or retreat in its recess. The sleeve may be retained by a pin t or equivalent means. The outer end of the head-block has a curved face the contour of which is such that there shall be two separated wedge faces 5 and 6 projecting farther than a central portion S between them, and the whole is arranged so that normally the stem n when carried by the knob in its rotative movement may clear the head-.block entirely, and when the head-block is moved forward the central portion 8 shall register with the end of the stem 'n without having contact therewith when therknob is in its normal position at-rest, so that if the knob be then rotated in either direction the stein n shall form contact with and slide along one of the wedge faces 5 or 6, thereby causing the paWl R to be disengaged from the teeth 4 independently of any manipulation of the pushbutton.

` While the stem C is shown as having a bottom in the socket 7c', in which is an aperwith the barrel d, the gong may be rotated,-

whereby the mainspring will be Wound under tension and retained by the pawl R, the pawl X riding the ratchet-teeth of the Wheel O and avoiding vibrations of the ham mer. By rotating the sleeve U in a proper direction the head-block may be drawn back from its operative position and then the knobs may be used without causing any alarm; but an ordinary alarm may be sounded by merely pressing the button F, which action would be useful in daytime in lieu of the usual doorbell. For office-doors or at residences in the sleeping hours of the night the head-block may be pushed out into operative position, and

then should the door-latch be Withdrawn by rotating a knob the stem fn must come into contact with the head-block and permit the gong to rotate, causing an alarm that would continue untilrelease of the knob takes place, the knob being returned to its normal rest position by the usual means Within the lock or latch case. Upon vrelease of pressure against the pawl R it will be forced into engagement with the teeth 4 by the spring T and prevent further action of the alarm mechanism.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A door-knob including a shell having a central post, a gong having a hub rotatively mounted on the central post, a motive spring attached to and coiled about the hub, a ratchet-Wheel attached to the hub, a pawl pivoted in the shell and engaging the ratchetwheel and having an arm projecting through the shell, a rocking shaft supporting the shell, a guide-plate for the rocking shaft, and a sliding head-block mounted on the guideplate whereby the projecting arm of the pawl may be engaged.

2. A door-knob including a shell having a central post, a gong having a hub rotatively mounted on the central post, a motive spring attached to and coiled about the hub, a ratchet-wheel attached to the hub, a pawl pivoted in the shell and engaging the ratchetwheel, a rocking shaft having a groove in one side thereof and carrying the shell, and a push-rod carried in the groove and engaging the pawl.

3. A door-knob including a shell having a central post and also a post situate parallel to the central post, a gonghaving a hub rotatively mounted on the 'central post, a motive spring attached to and coiled about the hub and also attached to the post that is parallel to the central post, a toothed wheel secured to the hub, a ratchet-wheel secured to the hub, a pawl pivoted in the shell and engaging the ratchet-Wheel, a hammer pivoted inthe shell and operatively connected with the toothed wheel, and means whereby the pawl may be disengaged from the ratchetwheel.

4. Au alarm-sounding mechanism including a rocking shaft, a push-rod situate aside from and parallel to the axis of the rocking shaft, a door-knob, a push-button in the knob and engaging the push-rod, a knob comprising a shell, a gong, a motive spring, aratchetwheel operatively connected with the gong', a gong-hammer operatively connected with the gong, a pawl having operative connection with the ratchet-wheel and engaged by the push-rod, a guide-plate having arecess therein, a head-block mounted slidingly in the recess and engaging the pawl,and a sleeve working over the recess and engaging the head- IOO IOS

IIO

from the pawl.

Sie ceases 5: An alarm-sounding mechanism includ- V ed on the central post, a toothed wheel attached to the hub, a motive spring-attached to and coiled about the hollow hub, a post attached to the shell and also to the spring, a gong-hammer pivoted in the shell and operatively connected with the toothed wheel, a ratchet-wheel attached to the hollow hub, a pawl pivoted in the shell and engaging the ratchet-wheel and engaged bythe push-rod, and a spring normally pressing the pawl into contact with the ratchet-wheel and also forcing the push-rod outwardly toward the pushbutton.

6. An alarm-sounding mechanism including a rocking shaft, a guide-plate provided with a collar having a recess therein, aheadblock having opposing wedge faces and mounted in the recess, a sleeve rotatable on the collar and engaging the head-block, a knob at one end of the rocking shaft, a knob at the opposite end of the rocking shaft and cornprising a shell, a gong, a motive spring, a ratchet-wheel operatively connected with the gong, and a pawl engaging the ratchet-wheel and having an arm adapted to have contact with either of the wedge-faces and normally situate between the wedge-faces.

7. A combined burglar-alarm and door-bell comprising a knob-shell including a base having an aperture therein and a barrel, a central post attached to the base, a gong having a hollow hub revoluble on the central post and also having a barrel fitting closely into but not in contact with the barrel of the shell, a toothed wheel attached to the hollow hub, a ratchet-wheel attached to the hollow hub, a motive spring coiled about and secured to the hollow hub, a post secured to the base and connected to the spring, a gong-hammer pivoted on the base and' operatively connected with the toothed wheel, a pawl pivoted to the central post and engaging the ratchet-wheel and having an arm projecting through the aperture in the base, lateral guides supporting the pawl, a spring pressing the pawl into contact with the ratchet-Wheel, and means whereby the pawl may be disengaged from the ratchet-wheel.

8. In an alarm-sounding mechanism, the

v combination of the rocking shaft having the groove in the outer side thereof, the push-rod working in said groove, the outer knob attached to said rocking shaft, the push-button engaging said push-rod, the inner knob attached to the opposite end of said rocking shaft, the pawl pivoted in said inner knob and engaged by said push-rod, the central post in said inner knob, the gong having the hollow hub mountedvon said central post, the motive spring attached to said hollow hub, the post attached to said inner knob and to said spring, the toothed wheel attached to said hub, the gong-hammer pivoted in said inner knob and operatively connected with said toothed wheel,the ratchet-wheel attached to said hub, the pawl pivoted in said inner knob and engaging said ratchet-wheel and engaged by said push-rod, and the spring engaging said pawl, substantially as set forth.

9. In an alarm-sounding mechanism, the combination of the rocking shaft, theknobshell, the gong, the` motive spring, the pawl restraining the action of the spring, the guideplate having the collar provided with a recess, the head-block having the opposing wedge-faces and mounted in said recess, and the sleeve working over said collar and operatively engaging said head-block, substantially as set forth.

I0. In an alarm-sounding mechanism, the combination with the rocking shaft having the push-rod movable therein, of the knobshell comprising the barrel and the base attached to said shaft, the center post, the spring-post, the gong mounted on said center post, the motive spring connected with said gong and to said spring-post, the main` gearwheel having the peripheral teeth and also having the ratchet-teeth at one side thereof, the rotative shaft in said shell, the pinion on said shaft, the ratchet-wheel on said shaft, the arm on said shaft, the pawl on said arm and enga-ging said ratchet-wheel, the gonghammer arm engaged by said ratchet-wheel, the pivoted pawl engaging said ratchet-teeth and engaged by said push-rod, and the spring pressing said pawl into engagement with said ratchet-teeth, substantially as set forth.

1l. In an alarm-sounding mechanism, the combination of the inner door-knob shell inbinding the base having the aperture therein, the central post attached to said base, the gong mounted on said post, the toothed wheel operatively connected with the gong, the motive spring operatively connected with the gong, the support for anchoring one end of said spring, the gong-hammer operatively connected with the toothed wheel, the pawl operating to restrain the action of said spring when under tension and projecting through said aperture in said base, the rocking shaft supporting said inner door-knob shell, the

push-rod situate aside from and parallel to the axis of thesaid rocking shaft and engaging said pawl, the outer knob also supported by said rocking shaft, the push-button engaging said push-rod, the spring engaging said pawl and normally pressing the same against said push-rod, a fixed plate provided with a collar having a recess therein, a headblock mounted slidingly in said recess and having opposing wedge-faces whereby said pawl may be operated, and a sleeve working over said collar and said recess and engaging IIO said head-block whereby the same may be engaged with and disengaged from said pawl, substantially as set forth.

12. In an alarm-sounding mechanism, the combination with the knob-shell having the aperture near the axis thereof, of the xed support, the movable head-block mounted on said fixed support, the pawl pivoted in said shell and having the stem extending through said aperture in proximity to said head-block, the spring operating to press said pawl-stem into engagement with said headblock,the central post, the gong on said post, the ratchetwheel engaged by said pawl, the motive spring, the gong-hammer, and the toothed wheels arranged to be set in motion by the motive spring to operate said hammer and to be restrained by said pawl, substantially as set forth.

13. In an alarm-sounding mechanism, the combination of the rocking shaft, the pair of knobs at the ends of said shaft, the push-rod extending between said knobs, the push-button, the gong, the gong-hammer, the motive spring for operating the gong-hammer, the train of toothed wheels operatively connected with said gong-hammer, the Xedgnide-plate, the movable head-block having the opposing Wedge-faces supported by said guide-plate, the sleeve engaging said head-block whereby the same may be moved toward or from said plate, and a pawl operatively connected with said train of wheels whereby to restrain the same and also in operative engagement with said push-rod and said head-block, substantially as set forth.

14. In an alarm-sounding mechanism, the

combination of the rocking shaft, the pair of knobs, the fixed guide-plate having the collar provided with the recess, a head-block having opposing Wedge-faces and having its body portion mounted slidingly in said recess, the sleeve .for operating said head -block, the gong, the gong-hammer, the train of toothed Wheels operatively connected with the gonghammer, the motive spring for operating said train of wheels and said hammer, and the pawl member operati ng to restrain the action of said motive spring and extending to the outer face of said head-block whereby said pawl member maybe operated, and the spring normally pressing against said pawl member, as set forth.

15. In an alarm-sounding mechanism, the combination of the rocking shaft having the groove at a side thereof, the push-rod in said groove, the outer knob, the push-button engaging said rod, the inner knob, the gong, the gong-hammer, the train of toothed wheels operatively connected with the gong -hammer, the motive spring operatively connected with said train of wheels, the pawl operating with said train of wheels to restrain the action of said spring and engaged by said pushrod, and the spring engaging said pawl and pressing the same toward said rod, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PURL c. PLAsTER.

Witnesses:

WM. H. PAYNE, E. T. SILvIUs. 

